A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Gostling, Philip
GOSTLING. (Capt., 1841. f-p., 20; h-p., 20.)
Philip Gostling is third son of Nathaniel Gostling, Esq., of Doctor’s Commons, a Proctor and Registrar in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. His grandfather and uncle each held the office of Admiralty Proctor and Registrar; and his brother, Francis, who was ultimately killed in a gallant affair off the coast of Manfredonia, fipeqnently distinguished himself while serving as a Lieutenant with the late Sir Wm. Hoste in H.M.S. Bacchante.
This officer entered the Navy, 15 Dec. 1807, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Unicorn 32, Capt. Lucius Ferdinand Hardyman; previously to accompanying whom into the Armide 38, he participated, as Midshipman, in many boat operations of great spirit on the coast of France, assisted in embarking the army after the battle of Corunna, and witnessed Lord Cochrane’s destruction of the French shipping in Aix Roads. While in the Armide, commanded latterly by Capt. Rich. Dalling Dunn, Mr. Gostling was earnestly employed in intercepting the enemy’s coasting-trade, and on one occasion we find him succeeding to the command of the boats in an attack upon an armed lugger, in consequence of the death of Lieut. Townley, his cousin, who was killed while in the act of boarding. From Oct. 1810, until promoted by the Admiralty to the rank of Lieutenant, 25 April, 1815, he was employed, on the Mediterranean and Home stations, in the Lavinia 38, Capts. Thos. Garth and Geo. Digby, Raisonnable 64, Capt. Edw. Sneyd Clay; San Josef 110, flag-ship of Sir Rich. King, and Puissant 74, Capt. Benj. Wm. Page; of which ships the Lavinia appears to have taken part in reducing the Castle of Medas, in the Bay of Rosas, and the San Josef to have shared in Sir Edw. Pellew’a partial actions of 5 Nov. 1813 and 13 Feb. 1814, with the Toulon fleet. Being then appointed to the Pactolus 38, Capt. Hon. Fred. Wm. Aylmer, Mr. Gostling, in the following summer, attended a most successful expedition up the Gironde, which terminated in the royal colours being hoisted on the Castle of Bordeaux, and in all the surrounding districts. He afterwards, on accompanying Capt Aylmer into the Severn 50, contributed to the famed demolition of the Algerine fortifications, 27 Aug. 1816. Being paid off in Feb. 1817, he subsequently joined – 6 Feb. 1821, and 18 Jan. 1823, the Impregnable 104, and Britannia 120, flag-ships of Sir Alex. Cochrane and Lord De Saumarez at Plymouth, where, after officiating for a short time as Flag-Lieutenant to the former officer, he was invested with the command of the Partridge tender – 18 April, 1826, as First, the Raleigh 18, Capt. John Windham Dalling, in the Mediterranean – and, 6 April, 1827, in a similar capacity, the Hussar 46, bearing the flag in North America of Sir Chas. Ogle. He was promoted by the latter officer to the rank of Commander in the same ship, in consequence of a death vacancy, 2 March, 1828, and in that capacity he continued to serve with him until paid off, on the return of the Hussar to England, 26 July, 1830. Capt. Gostling, whose next appointment was, 25 June, 1841, to the Electra 18, on the West India station, was advanced to his present rank on 23 of the following Nov. Since March, 1842, when he was superseded in the Electra, he has been unemployed. Agents – Messrs. Halford and Co.